…is that it makes your pictures very, very dark. Unless you use a very slow shutter speed, that is.

Here’s what I’d suggest:

Go out in this type of cloudy weather. But use your widest aperture, even if that means you work with a tiny depth of field. Something around f/2.8.

Then be willing to work with a slow shutter speed–such as 1/100s, or even 1/80s. Just be careful. At macro magnifications, camera shake is increased. So you have to make sure that you’re working in a stable position before taking the shot.

I recommend tucking in your elbows and carefully cupping the lens in your left hand. I also recommend bracing your body against something–a wall, a tree, or even the ground. The lower you get, the more stable you’ll be.

For even better stability, actually brace your camera against something solid. I sometimes place my camera against the ground and shoot slightly upward.

Worst case scenario, you can use a tripod. Personally, I avoid tripods as much as possible–because they limit your flexibility in the field.

But when the light is low, you do what you have to!

Cloudy Light in Macro Photography: Next Steps

Now you should have a solid understanding of cloudy light.

You should know why cloudy light is fantastic for macro photography.

You should know about the four different types of cloudy light.

And you should be ready…

…to start taking some stunning macro photos!

But if you want to keep improving your macro photography skills, then you should sign up for my newsletter! I’ll send you lots of tips, tricks, and secrets, all designed to get you capturing gorgeous photos (as fast as possible!)

Jaymes is a nature photographer and photography writer/editor from Ann Arbor, Michigan. His articles have been featured by a number of leading photography publications, including Digital Photography School, Expert Photography, and PetaPixel. To read more about him, click here!